In the heart of the Salento greenhouses, in southern Puglia there is the small village of Ruffano which, with the fraction of Torrepaduli, does not reach 10.000 inhabitants.
Ruffano, enlivened by the ruggedness of the hills and the architectural harmony of the historic centre, is one of the most appreciated areas of Salento.
The history and origins of Ruffano
The origins of Ruffano are uncertain.
Some findings from the rural area of Manfio testify that the site has been frequented since prehistoric times.
It seems that the name Ruffano derives from the Roman centurion Rufus who would have frequented this land in Roman times.
The historic centre dates back to the late Middle Ages, when the land, with its walls and fortress, would have represented the connecting element between the hamlets of San Marco and that of San Foca.
Ruffano was one of the most representative fiefdoms of the Terra d'Otranto, which passed from the hands of the Neapolitan Brancaccio family to that of the D'Amore of Ugento and, subsequently, to the Ferrante, all of whom left indelible traces in the community's heritage.
The Torrepaduli hamlet, whose name derives from the ancient presence of one or more towers and marshy areas that characterised the site in the past.
What to see in Ruffano
In the historic centre of Ruffano and Torrepaduli there are real architectural jewels such as the palaces: Pizzolante, Licci, Castriota-Scanderbeg, D'Urso and Villani. Palaces, courtyard houses, multi-family courtyards are articulated between open spaces and squares.
In the territory of Ruffano there are numerous “truddhi”, farmhouses and pajare present, architectural constructions linked to peasant civilization scattered throughout the surrounding countryside.
Among the truddhi, the “Trullo Ferrante” is of notable importance and is one of the most important in Puglia in terms of size.
Numerous underground oil mills They are scattered throughout the historic center where there is also the Sanctuary of San Rocco di Torrepaduli, a destination of pilgrimages for centuries.
On the Serra di Ruffano there is the church of the Madonna della Serra, at 170 metres above sea level, whose chapel, since the Middle Ages, has seen numerous pilgrims stop on their way to the Sanctuary of Leuca.
In the heart of the two historic centers stand out the mother churches: the church of the Immaculate Conception in Torrepaduli with its beautiful stone portals dating back to 1588 and 1603, and the eighteenth-century church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Ruffano, an example of Baroque architecture. Inside you can admire the numerous altars of Lecce stone and the paintings of the Ruffano painter Saverio Lillo (1734-1796).
Recent excavations under the Church of the Nativity have brought to light the foundations of medieval houses, burial pits and a cemetery from the Byzantine era (9th-10th century).
In the basement there is a crypt with oriental frescoes of the Crucifix and of San Marco and numerous natural caves used as places of worship.
It is also worth visiting the seventeenth-century Capuchin convent, the Brancaccio Castle, transformed into a stately home, and birthplace-museum of the Ruffano sculptor Antonio Bortone (1844-1938), one of the most appreciated Italian sculptors between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, where many of his autographed works are preserved, such as the sculpture of the Winged Victory.
Also worth visiting is the Municipal art gallery where there are numerous contemporary works of art and the “Don Tonino Bello” municipal library with a library collection dating back to the 16th century, but also the Naturalistic Museum of the Madonna della Serra, the Ceramics Museum, adjacent to the excavations of the mother church of Ruffano and the Museum of Rural Civilization of Torrepaduli.
In the town there are also several artisan workshops of ceramics, copper, lace, embroidery, weaving, tambourine, where there is no lack of innovative aspects.
Typical Ruffano dishes
I local products They are linked to the traditional crops of fruit and vegetables, olives and wheat, but it is above all the quality extra virgin olive oil that has a certain productive pre-eminence.
The typical dishes that are worth trying are the “Ciciri and Tria cu li frizzuli”, a dish that has always been present in the culinary culture of Salento, made with chickpeas and fresh pasta, part of which is fried; the “horse bits”, a stew of horse meat in sauce flavoured with pepper and bay leaves; the “cecamari”, pancakes with seasonal vegetables; the “scurdjiata”, composed of vegetables, legumes and fried bread and the “beans with the coat”, all dishes cooked in locally produced pottery.
There is no shortage of sweets made with almond paste and “caranciuli”, typical Christmas sweets.
What to do in Ruffano
Among the most important events in Ruffano are the patron saint Anthony of Padua that takes place from 11 to 13 June and that of San Marco, April 25th, for which a exhibition and the country is decorated with the lights, the band fills the streets with music and then the celebrations end with fireworks.
In the hamlet of Torrepaduli many faithful, devotees and tourists gather in the night between the 15 and the 16 August in the square in front of the Sanctuary, for the Feast of San Rocco during which the traditional "ronde" take place with the "knife dance" or "fencing dance" to the rhythm of the pizzica.
Unmissable in May the event “Open Courtyards” in which the beauty and uniqueness of the historic center of Ruffano, its palaces and courtyard houses are celebrated. Beyond the entrance portal, it is possible to discover the green soul of the private gardens, true treasure chests of art and treasures.
In Ruffano you never get bored. During the year the Municipal Administration, in collaboration with local Associations, organizes theater seasons, food and wine events, cultural meetings, guided tours, sports events, courses on craftsmanship and concerts.
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